Chargers learn to beat the elite

“I think it’s a team that’s a little more mature and it’s understanding how good we can be if we play to our ability all the time,” linebacker Shaun Phillips said. “That’s what we’re finding out. Everyone is believing in themselves, and that’s why we’re starting to roll.”

In 2006, the Chargers went 4-2 against winning teams. In 2005, the one season since ’04 the Chargers did not make the playoffs, they were 5-5 against winning teams.

From 2004-08, the Chargers’ 54 victories were fourth-most in the NFL. But they largely feasted on weaklings in that span, winning 29 of those games against teams that finished with losing records. Their record against teams that finished a season with a winning record was 15-20.

By comparison, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won two Super Bowls and 56 regular-season games from ’04-’08, went 19-13 against winning teams.

Who you play and when you play them goes a long way toward determining success in the NFL, for sure. The Steelers still got 30 of their victories against losing teams in that ’04-’08 period.

But being able to beat good teams says a lot about the true strength of a team.

“Maybe it says we’re playing at a higher level all the way around,” Rivers said. “The little things that may have kept us from winning those games against formidable opponents haven’t happened, some of the key crucial mistakes.”

As the Chargers look to extend what is already an NFL-record 16-game December winning streak and push toward the playoffs, there are signs that this Chargers team is better than any of its playoff predecessors — meaning perhaps more prepared to finally win a Super Bowl.

In games decided by eight or fewer points this year, the Chargers are 7-1. In the previous five seasons, they were 20-19. Over the past two seasons, they were 2-9.

Where in-game breakdowns in the fourth quarter and/or slow starts would come back to haunt them in close games in past years, there have been no fourth-quarter meltings, and quick starts have become the norm.

“We haven’t had to fight back,” left tackle Marcus McNeill said. “We’re coming in with the mindset to take charge. We’re staying consistent, playing at a high level. We haven’t come out flat lately.”

For a coach, it comes down to execution. Turner has preached a process to the Chargers. And while, like many in the organization, he thinks the 2007 team could have won the Super Bowl if it had not suffered massive injuries in December and January, Turner believes this is the best team he’s coached.

“We’re a better defense, more complete defense,” he said. “We’ve always been very complete on special teams, because we’ve got two great kickers and a returner. We’re balanced offensively. This is an awfully complete team.”